Pyrgos: A Marble Village on Tinos
Step into Pyrgos, the unique marble village in Tinos, and you’ll find yourself walking through a world of marble.
The Marble Village on Tinos
In Pyrgos, marble is everywhere. The streets, buildings, sculptures, churches, homes, archways and more are shaped from it and adorned by it. If you think marble is beautiful and elegant, like I do, then you must go to this unique place on Tinos island.
Located on the northern part of the island, Pyrgos boasts a great legacy in marble craftsmanship.
Generally in Greece, marble is used frequently in construction and art. Marble, all types of it, is everywhere here especially when compared to most place in the world. It is one of the country’s great natural resources. I blogged about my fascination with a marble workshop in Athens in my post Greek Marbles in a Yard.
If you think about it, all of those famous ancient Greek statues and temples that have been admired throughout time are made of pure beautiful marble. In a country famous for its marble consumption and creative use of marble, Pyrgos stands out.
Strolling through the picturesque marble paths, lined with colorful bougainvillea, you can pop into a sculptor’s studio, a craftsman workshop or a shop that sells all type of Greek marbled décor.
5 Things to Do in Pyrgos: The Marble Village of Tinos
- Walk around and get lost in the marbled streets and pop into one of the open marble craftsman workshops to see how they create their art.
- Buy a handmade marble piece of artwork to support the local market. It makes a great souvenir!
- Visit the Museum of Marble Crafts to learn the history of marble starting from Ancient Greek times.
- Visit the Art School for Marble Sculpture which has supported the art of marble craftsmanship since 1955.
- Have a piece of homemade galaktaboureko (sweet milk custard pie) with a Greek coffee under the gorgeous old plane tree in the town’s picturesque center square.
How to Get to Tinos
By Air
To get to the Greek islands, many international travelers arrive by air, usually with a change in Athens or another major city. There are some direct seasonal flights to certain island destinations too. You can find the best flight deals with Travelocity.
By Ferry
During the peak summer season, daily ferries link Tinos to Mykonos (30 minutes) and to Rafina (3 hours and 45 minutes) and Andros (1.5 hours).
A daily ferry leaves Athens Piraeus Port (5 hours).
There are also ferries from Thessaloniki, Crete, Skiathos, Santorini and Paros and weekly ferries from other ports and islands in Greece. Check www.openseas.gr for more details and updated time schedules.
Getting Around Tinos
The easiest way to get from point A to point B on the island is by driving. An international car rental company I can highly recommend is Avis Europe.
Where to Stay in Tinos
You can find my full reviews I wrote for Fodor’s about the best accommodation in Tinos here. I was very pleased with my stay at the Tinos Beach Hotel. Great staff and value for money. Perfect for families. Located a few kilometers from the main port, right next to a beach.
Where to Eat in Tinos
You can find my reviews I wrote for Fodor’s about the best Tinos restaurants here.
Have you ever been to the church of miracles in Tinos? Have you been to a church like this before? I’d love to hear about it.
Have you ever been to the marble village in Tinos?
